Cuban Regime Criticizes Exclusion from Americas Summit: Their Justifications

The Cuban government responded harshly on Tuesday to its exclusion from the upcoming 10th Summit of the Americas, scheduled for December 4th and 5th in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Alongside Venezuela and Nicaragua, Cuba will not be participating in the event, a decision that prompted Havana to issue a statement through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX). The statement accused Washington of exerting "brutal pressure" on the hemisphere and criticized the Dominican government for "caving in," as the host of the summit.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba expresses its deep concern and rejection over the decision forced upon the Dominican Republic by the U.S. government to exclude three countries, including Cuba, from the 10th Summit of the Americas," the statement declared. Released on September 30th, the document asserts that this exclusion is an "obvious surrender to the unilateral and brutal pressures of the U.S. Secretary of State," marking a historical regression in hemispheric forums that, according to the regime, aim for more equitable relations among the continent's nations.

Historical Tensions and Doctrinal Conflicts

With a combative tone and rhetoric reminiscent of Cold War ideological disputes, the statement claims that excluding Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua "would reinforce the historical regression of this summit system." It further argues that such exclusion would hinder “respectful and productive exchanges between Latin America, the Caribbean, and the imperial power that resorts to 'gunboat diplomacy' and the Monroe Doctrine against our region.”

The official text not only targets the United States as a "voracious and expansionist neighbor" but also questions the credibility and legitimacy of the summit itself. The regime warns that if this approach continues, "subordination and submission" will prevail, posing an "outright challenge to the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace."

"Submission or Aggression"

The Cuban Foreign Ministry also cited leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, who in February of this year stated, "Today the U.S. government intends to dictate choices for the countries of the region: either submit or face aggression." From the regime's perspective, Cuba's exclusion is not just an ideological offensive but also undermines progress made in previous summits—such as the 2015 Panama summit where Cuba participated officially for the first time.

The statement recalled the "almost unanimous" protest from the region during the unsuccessful 2022 Summit in Los Angeles, where several heads of state and government boycotted the event in opposition to Washington's exclusionary policy. The regime emphasized the illegitimacy of the Punta Cana summit, asserting that "a Summit of the Americas built on exclusion and coercion is doomed to fail." Additionally, it argued that a genuine "political dialogue" between the Americas and the United States cannot occur on foundations of censorship, exclusion, inequity, and abuse.

Despite its criticisms, the regime reiterated its willingness for "respectful and constructive dialogue, under conditions of sovereign equality and without exclusions." Yet, regional isolation is evident.

Reactions from Díaz-Canel and Marrero

On social media platform X, both Miguel Díaz-Canel and Manuel Marrero echoed the MINREX statement's disapproval of the exclusion. "We reject the decision imposed by the U.S. government on the Dominican Republic to exclude three countries, including #Cuba, from the 10th Summit of the Americas. We reiterate our willingness for respectful and constructive dialogue, under conditions of sovereign equality and without exclusions," stated Díaz-Canel. The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, added, "The imperial power once again uses 'gunboat diplomacy' and the Monroe Doctrine against the region."

The Other Side: Responses from the Dominican Republic and the U.S.

Prior to the Cuban statement, the Dominican Foreign Ministry had officially confirmed the exclusion of the three authoritarian regimes, arguing that their absence would encourage "greater participation and ensure the development of the meeting." It was also noted that none of the three participated in the previous edition.

Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez defended the summit as a vital platform for enhancing regional cooperation and overcoming political polarization that has hindered progress. The theme of this edition will be "Building a Secure Hemisphere and Shared Prosperity." Meanwhile, Washington maintains that participation in the Summit of the Americas is contingent upon a commitment to democracy. In 2022, White House advisor for Latin America, Juan González, bluntly stated, "How can we invite a country when they are imprisoning people just for singing and asking for food?"

Is This a New Era of Isolation?

While Havana's official rhetoric insists on the right to participate on equal terms, the facts suggest otherwise: the continent's democracies continue to distance themselves from regimes like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, whose legitimacy is widely questioned. Despite its protests, Cuba faces an unavoidable reality: its exclusion from the Punta Cana summit confirms the persistence of a hemispheric political stance that leaves it isolated, reinforcing its regional isolation beyond mere discourse.